Since the government's vehicle rationing system took effect, cases of school workers seeing their commute times double or triple have been surging. The burden is particularly heavy in areas with weak public transportation infrastructure, spreading frustration among teachers, instructors and other education workers.
According to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the government implemented a license plate-based vehicle rationing system for public institutions on May 25 as part of energy supply measures amid the prolonged Middle East conflict. Starting June 8, the restrictions will be expanded to an alternating-day vehicle system (odd-even plate rule) and a rationing system for public parking lots.
Complaints about commuting burdens are growing louder in the education sector compared to other public servants. Schools in particular are hit harder because their work hours effectively cannot be adjusted, as staff must align with student arrival times. Distances that took 20 to 30 minutes by personal car often take well over an hour or even more than two hours by public transit.
The situation is more severe in rural areas. Schools located in small towns and mountainous regions have limited bus routes with long intervals between services, often requiring multiple transfers. With commute times more than doubling, some are calling it a "commuting war."
Related complaints have also been pouring into education offices. After-school instructors who travel between multiple schools are particularly affected. Many must carry musical instruments, teaching aids and other equipment, and using public transit significantly increases travel time while also taking a physical toll. An after-school music instructor identified only as "A" said, "When I drove, 30 minutes was enough, but now it takes over an hour carrying instruments and transferring between buses. I feel physically drained before the class even starts."
Confusion is also mounting as some schools have begun requiring external instructors to comply with the vehicle rationing system. While instructors are not subject to the regulations, they are effectively facing mobility restrictions as schools apply the same standards on the ground. An education sector official said, "Applying the same standards to external instructors does not match the realities on the ground. Uniform regulations based solely on distance cannot reflect actual commuting conditions, and there are limits to applying the same criteria used for general administrative agencies to jobs that center on face-to-face instruction with students."